Cowl ventilator



March 28, 1939. R. H. DEAN COWL VENTILATOR `F`iled Feb. ll, 1938 2SheetS-Sheetl 1 N VEN TOR.

March 28, 1,1939. R.'H. DEAN cowL VNTILATOR Filed Feb. 11, 1938 ATTORNEY.5

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.. lloy H. Dean' Patented Mar. 28, 1939 Y iUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cowLV vEN'HLA'roR RoyH. Dean, Detroit,Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorpora- Y tion of Delaware Application February 11, 1938, Serial No.190,077

6 Claims.

lines to lock the ventilator panel closed. However, the lever armarrangements andthe toggle arm arrangements, so far as I know, have beenso designed and arranged that they usually afforded a lever which islocated behind and below the instrument board. This is always hardvtofind in the darkness which is usually present in this location. But evena greaterY objection is that this operating mechanism presents a realproblem with the present setup of appliances and accessories, such asheaters, radios, electrical connections, etc.

, It is the object of the present invention to provide a very simpleoperating unit which absolutely locks a closure in its closed position,which has a handle in a very convenient place where it may be foundwithout any trouble and which removes the operating mechanism from aposition where it will interfere with the accessories, electricalconnections, etc. on the instrument board. n

yReferring to the drawings:

Fig, 1 is a'fragmentary elevation of the inside of a closed body showingthe ventilator operating handle in position.

, Fig. 2 is a :vertical central section through the cowl, the ventilatorand the instrument board.

Fig. 3 is a plan View, partly in section, of the operating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the actuator cup segment. f

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of one of the sections of one of theoperating links.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the reinforcing frame.

Fig. '7 is a perspective of the mounting plate.

a designates the cowl and b the ventilator closure lid which is providedwith a deflector c and a screen d. The closure unit swings on an arm ewhich is tted to the underside of the cowl at f.

The actuating means consists of a bracket g which is secured to thedeflector plate c. This pivots an elbow h which Yconnects with thetwopart adjustable link or toggle arm z' and il. This link is part of atoggle that includes the cup segment 9'. This is provided with aplurality of recesses k arranged to receive the ball detent l. A crankarm m is fastened on the spindle n which protrudes through the top ofthe instrument panel o in the relatively large space formed in the V ofthe windshield. The mounting plate q carries the ball detent Z which isspringpressed by a spring r located in the cupy s that is riveted to themounting plate. This mounting plate is secured to the reinforcing platet which is shown in detail in Fig. e. The detailsof the fastening arenot yshown in the drawings, but `the mounting plate can belbolted to thereinforcing plate through the screw holes u and o shown in Figs. 7 and 6respectively. The spindle 1'0.

ment by means of the elbow z. The two elbowsv h and e form, in effect,universal connections at both ends of the link for converting the rotarymotion in a substantially horizontal plane to rotary motion in a'substantially vertical plane. The link. i, i1 and the portion of the cupsegment between the axis of the pivot 2 and the axis of the spindle nform, in effect, toggle arms.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that when the ventilator is open,the toggle is broken, and, whenl thev ventilator is closed as sh'own inthe full lines, the toggle arms are on substantially the dead center orover the dead center and, therefore, constitute an effective lockagainst prying the Ventilating lid open.

It will be noted that the operating parts are immediately under the topof the instrument panel and out of the way as well as they may be of theelectrical connections, accessories,etc. 35 that are 'usually on theback of the instrument panel or closely adjacent thereto. It is also tobe observed that the toggle arms have very little vertical throw intravelling from one operating position to the other and, hence, will not'inter- 40 fere with the adjacent parts in this way.

What I claim is:

1. In a cowl ventilator, the combination with the cowl and an instrumentboard of an automobile body having a top portion lying in a planeapproximating a horizontal plane, the cowl provided with a ventilatoropening, of a swinging ventilator lid acting as a closure for saidopening and pivotally supported on the underside of the cowl and acontrol therefor comprising a pivoted actuating member supported on theunderside of the top of the instrument panel and arranged to turn in aplane approximating the horizontal and connecting means between saidactuating member and the swinging lid for converting the turningmovement in an approximately horizontal plane into turning movement in avertical plane for opening and closing the lid.

2. In a cowl ventilator, the combination with the cowl and an instrumentboard of an automobile body having a top portion lying in a planeapproximating a horizontal plane, the cowl provided with a ventilatoropening, of a swinging ventilator lid acting as a closure for saidopening and pivotally supported on the underside of the cowl and acontrol therefor comprising a pivoted actuating member supported on theunderside of the top of the instrument panel and arranged to turn in aplane approximating the horizontal and connecting means between saidlactuating member and the swinging lid for converting the turningmovement in an approximately horizontal plane into turning movement in avertical plane for opening and closing the lid, including a toggle armcooperating with a portion of the actuating member to form an operatingtoggle.

3. In a cowl ventilator, the combination with the cowl and an instrumentboard of an automobile body having a top portion lying in a planeapproximating a horizontal plane, the cowl provided with a ventilatoropening, of a swinging ventilator lid acting as a closure for saidopening and pivotally supported on the underside of the cowl and acontrol therefor comprising a pivoted actuating member supported on theunderside of the top of the instrument panel and arranged to turn in aplane approximating the horizontal and connecting means between saidactuating member and the swinging lidr for converting the turningmovement in an approximately horizontal plane into turning movement in avertical plane for opening and closing the lid, including a toggle armcooperating with a portion of the actuating member to form an operatingtoggle, said toggle arm comprising a pair of toothed arm sections thatcan be bolted together at various positions to change the eifect andlength of the arm.

4. In a cowl ventilator, the combination with the cowll and aninstrument board of an automobile body having a top portion lying in aplane approximating a horizontal plane, the cowl provided with aventilator opening, of a swinging ventilator lid acting as a closure forsaid opening and pivotally supported on the underside of the cowl and acontrol therefor comprising a pivoted actuating member supported on theunderside of the top of the instrument panel and arranged to turn in aplane approximating the horizontal and connecting means between saidactuating member and the swinging lid for converting the turningmovement in an approximately horizontal plane into turning movement in avertical plane for opening and closing the lid, including a toggle armcooperating with a portion of the actuating member to form an operatingtoggle, the said toggle arranged to be on a substantial dead center whenthe lid is closed and the toggle arranged to be broken whenthe lid isopened.

5. In a cowl ventilator, the combination with the cowl and an instrumentboard of an automobile body having a top portion lying in a planeapproximating a horizontal plane, the cowl provided with a ventilatoropening, of a swinging ventilator lid acting as a closure for saidopening and pivotally supported on the underside of the cowl and acontrol therefor comprising a pivoted actuating member supported on theunderside of the top of the instrument panel and arranged to turn in aplane approximating the horizontal and connecting means between saidactuating member and the swinging lid for converting the turningmovement in an approximately horizontal plane into turning movement in avertical plane for opening and closing the lid, including a toggle armcooperating with a portion of the actuating member to form an operatingtoggle, the said arm having one or more universal connections with theactuating member and with the swinging lid.

6. In a cowl ventilator, the combination with the cowl and an instrumentboard of an automobile body having a top portion lying in a planeapproximating a horizontal plane, the cowl provided with a ventilatoropening, of a swinging ventilator lid acting as a closure for saidopening and pivotally supported on the underside of the cowl and acontrol therefor comprising a pivoted actuating member supported on theunderside of the top of the instrument panel and arranged to turn in aplane approximating the horizontal and: connecting means between saidactuating member and the swinging lid for converting the turningmovement in an approximately horizontal plane into turning movement in avertical plane for opening and closing the lid, including a toggle armcooperating with a portion of the actuating member to form an operatingtoggle, the said arm having one or more universal connections with theactuating member and with the swinging lid, comprising one or moretwisted links with pivotal connections angularly removed from eachother.

ROY H. DEAN.

